Diabetes and Cymbalta

I am currently one week off Cymbalta. Wicked drug withdrawls for anyone thinking of weaning. The problem is out of control blood sugar. Constant readings in the low 200's. For example, yesterday a total of 12 carbs, all day. Sugar this morning was 210. The lowest it has been is 170.

I currently take 100 mg Januvia. I have been type 2 since 97, and no way close to overweight. I am really thinking that there is a link between ssri's and the onset of diabetes. Back in 96 I went on Prozac. Rode that until 08. Then swiched to Cymbalta. Rode that until last week.

I am thinking about calling my doctor, but I have reservations. Due to the fact that I had to tell him how to wean off Cymbalta. And actually I didn't wean off gradually enough and am experiencing " brain Zaps", etc.

Diabetes and Cymbalta

I can certainly understand your problems coming off anti depressant meds. I was taking meds called Geodon and Welbutrin untill a week ago. I was weaned off rather quickly after taking them for years. I am having severe depression attacks without the meds. My BG levels have actually come down quite a bit without the Geodon. I take insulin and have had to change my dosing quite a bit. If your BG is staying high then you might want to talk to your doctor about other med ideas.

Have you been put on other anti depressant meds? You need to be weaned off over a period of months rather than a few weeks.

Julia

JuliaI have been diabetic since my teens, type 2. I produce no insulin of my own so I take Lantus and Humalog daily. I have several severe diabetes related complications, Gastroparesis, peripheral neuropathy of both arms and legs, autonomic neuropathy involving internal organs and blood vessels, kidney damage, HTN, vision issues. I also have COPD and severe Asthma. I am a uterine cancer survivor and had a TAH BSO at 35. I have had genetic blood work done that shows my neuropathy issues are hereditary and would of occurred even without diabetes. I also have very severe depression and anxiety. When not on my "mental health meds" I am not a very nice person and am good at alienating everyone around me including myself.

Diabetes and Cymbalta

I don't know anything better to tell you other than Julia knows her stuff... but I'll add a bit of support in terms of sharing an idea- I guess you found out 1st hand just why they talk about monitoring blood sugar when on Cymbalta in their TV commercials...

I'd hate to have #'s like that b/c of meds. Take care of yourself & follow your doc's orders about weaning off- these are systemic meds & I know fm another systemic med, prednisone for my athsma- you have to carefully wean, or unpleasant things can happen to the way your body system works.... Fortunately I dodged an athsma attack bullet recently- & won't need the vitamin P, but my doc says he'll give me insulin if I need prednisone to keep my numbers in line... so I can at least appreciate where you are coming from.... Good luck w/your meds & getting your #'s back down.

Maybe you should look into RichardSurwit.com, to check out his book on relaxation & diabetes- called The Mind-Body Diabetes Revolution. It has great info on D & decades of solid research on how relaxation can help your #'s. There is a CD that helps walk you thru the relaxation exercises & I found it to be most helpful. More relaxation can also help w/the stress that affects your moods & required the meds. Check out the book & CD...

Good luck, BD

bD

bD = Eli

bD - the b is 'cause I'm fm Brooklyn & the D is 'cause I've dodged a big bullet. The Brooklyn Dodgers were named for those dodging trolleys way back when in Brooklyn; but I am still a big Mets fan (note the text color choices).

Diabetes and Cymbalta

Tileman, I have had depression since before they had medicines for it. I've tried them all--from the tri-cyclics to the MAOI'S to the SSRI'S. None of them worked for any length of time. But, of course, all the nasty side effects did! And some of them were horrific.

I am convinced that anti-depressants raise blood sugar. I'm no doctor, but I truly believe this was the case for me.

Recently diagnosed with diabetes, I weaned myself off Pristiq. It "weren't" easy. So you're saying that Cymbalta does the same thing?

Diabetes and Cymbalta

Ok I posted on 5/4/2010. Today is 5/8/2010. My morning sugar level on the 4th was above 200. Now after roughly a week and a few days weaned of Cymbalta, this morning my sugar is 146. Still diabetic, but my gut feeling is Eli Lilly is responsible for my diabetes.

I will contact my doctor and have him check my chart to see when I was first prescribed Prozac, and then look at when I was first diagonsed with type 2 diabetes. I would bet the ranch that there is a connection.

So with that said. Any folks that are taking ssri's, you should look at the connection.

Diabetes and Cymbalta

I am sorry you are having difficulties both with meds, as well as weaning off of meds.

The types of things you report are often reported with weaning off of drugs like Cymbalta.

Many people report difficulties weaning off of the SSRI meds, as well and the SNRI meds (like Pritsiq) ... and the adjunctive meds like Geodon, Seroquel, Zyprexa, Risperdal can really add to BG issues. Some of these meds are worse than others. There's a great deal of info. about this on the net, both credible..and incredible. (Beware of the not so credible.) **

Many Primary Care doctors do not fully understand all of the potential ramifications of these meds. Many psychiatrists do not, either. If you are having issues with withdrawal and need assitance, please consider seeing a psychopharmacologist. Not every psychiatrist qualifies as one. One you make the distinction, you will see the ratio of actual psychopharmacologists to psychiatrists is very small. However, these are the docs truly trained in the use of these meds.

The use of these meds, some more than others, is a highly controversial issue.

It's best that you see a specialist if you can do so.

I have found a very bright pharmacist often knows a great deal about meds! This is their specialty! I have never found a competent pharmacist unhappy if I'd asked questions, nor willing to give any misleading answers. What they do not know, they will offer to find out for you. I consult with my pharmacist on any new med... always. I also do my own research.

(How do I know these things? One of my long-time friends is a highy trained psychopharmacologist. Two of my friends from childhood are very competent local pharmacists. )

I hope you can get the info. you need on for a safe and a comfortable withdrawal, as well as very sound advice if/whenever any of these, or other, drug classes may need consideration in the future.

I found this thread by googling cymbalta and diabetes. I have long suspected that cymbalta may be the cause of my type 2 diabetes. I was on average 115 lbs and a pretty good diet, lots of beans and greens before I was diagnosed. No one else in my family has had diabetes. 11/06 my blood sugar levels were great. Nothing unusual in cholesterol levels, pretty healthy. The only chronic problem I had up to that point was Fibromyalgia, diagnosed back in 1995. Shortly after that normal blood test, my doctor prescribed cymbalta for the fibromyalgia. This doctor was new to me at that time as well. By April of 2007, 5 months later, I was a full blown insulin dependent diabetic. The only thing different was the Cymbalta. In the 6 years since, at 40 years of age, I have not had the diabetes under control, no matter what I tried. I have even followed Dr. Fuhrman's Eat to Live diet and have been able to decrease my insulin some, but not nearly enough. Now I have Nash, vision and heart rate issues due to the uncontrollable diabetes.

Sadly i am still taking the Cymbalta. No one in the medical professional will acknowledge that the Cymbalta may be the trigger. So out of frustration, I am taking it into my own hands and going to wean myself off of it. I have been late at times and have experienced brain buzz and zaps, so I know this isn't going to be easy. I realize this is an old thread, however, any updates and advice on the best way to get through this would be very helpful. I took the first step and requested a smaller dose, but haven't started them yet.

Re: Diabetes and Cymbalta

I found this thread by googling cymbalta and diabetes. I have long suspected that cymbalta may be the cause of my type 2 diabetes. I was on average 115 lbs and a pretty good diet, lots of beans and greens before I was diagnosed. No one else in my family has had diabetes. 11/06 my blood sugar levels were great. Nothing unusual in cholesterol levels, pretty healthy. The only chronic problem I had up to that point was Fibromyalgia, diagnosed back in 1995. Shortly after that normal blood test, my doctor prescribed cymbalta for the fibromyalgia. This doctor was new to me at that time as well. By April of 2007, 5 months later, I was a full blown insulin dependent diabetic. The only thing different was the Cymbalta. In the 6 years since, at 40 years of age, I have not had the diabetes under control, no matter what I tried. I have even followed Dr. Fuhrman's Eat to Live diet and have been able to decrease my insulin some, but not nearly enough. Now I have Nash, vision and heart rate issues due to the uncontrollable diabetes.

Sadly i am still taking the Cymbalta. No one in the medical professional will acknowledge that the Cymbalta may be the trigger. So out of frustration, I am taking it into my own hands and going to wean myself off of it. I have been late at times and have experienced brain buzz and zaps, so I know this isn't going to be easy. I realize this is an old thread, however, any updates and advice on the best way to get through this would be very helpful. I took the first step and requested a smaller dose, but haven't started them yet.

Thank you!

angelina

We have had other posts linking Cymbalta to developing diabetes as well over the years. I really think there is a link, especially if diabetes is in your family history.

Re: Diabetes and Cymbalta

I found this thread by googling cymbalta and diabetes. I have long suspected that cymbalta may be the cause of my type 2 diabetes. I was on average 115 lbs and a pretty good diet, lots of beans and greens before I was diagnosed. No one else in my family has had diabetes. 11/06 my blood sugar levels were great. Nothing unusual in cholesterol levels, pretty healthy. The only chronic problem I had up to that point was Fibromyalgia, diagnosed back in 1995. Shortly after that normal blood test, my doctor prescribed cymbalta for the fibromyalgia. This doctor was new to me at that time as well. By April of 2007, 5 months later, I was a full blown insulin dependent diabetic. The only thing different was the Cymbalta.

G'day Angelina

Welcome to the forum. I haven't had any experience with Cymablta so I'll leave that discussion for those who have.

In the 6 years since, at 40 years of age, I have not had the diabetes under control, no matter what I tried. I have even followed Dr. Fuhrman's Eat to Live diet and have been able to decrease my insulin some, but not nearly enough. Now I have Nash, vision and heart rate issues due to the uncontrollable diabetes.

angelina

We have seen people promoting Fuhrman's ideas here. I am sorry it did not help you, but not surprised at all.

Would you mind giving us some more details of your diabetes and how you manage it? Information such as your A1c, blood glucose levels that you see when you test at home, the dietary advice you now follow and so on.

While you think about that, please click on this for some different ideas that may help.

Re: Diabetes and Cymbalta

I would love to come off of Cymbalta. I haven't noticed that it has caused any unusual blood sugar swings. Now, when I was also taking Seroquel, my BG was in the 200's all of the time. Now it hovers around 120.

Be very careful coming off of Cymbalta -- you should probably have decreased your dosages more slowly. It's dangerous to come off of any psych med too quickly.

May you be blessed, now and always.

Leslie Jackson-HollandDiagnosed with Type 2 over 20+ years ago, ignored it for all but 2 years. Now have complications. Diagnosed at A1C of 11.7, now A1C is 5.7. No longer on insulin, still taking oral meds.